What do a bunch of those minor third parties with ballot/write-in access do?

[AltWorlder]

Say what you want about their lack of power, the Greens and Libertarians at least show up in the news as fringe parties that represent political views not clearly defined in the major parties, and may or may not have spoiler effects by appealing to the disaffected. Ditto for the Constitution Party to a lesser extent, and at least it has a somewhat semi-fringe, semi-mainstream pedigree by being founded by Howard Philips and being linked to popular fringe figures with celebrity power like Pat Buchanan, the Ten Commandments judge guy, and Alan Keyes. Ditto for the Peace and Freedom Party maybe since Rosanne Barr was their candidate in 2012 (maybe?)

The Reform Party used to count as well but it pretty much fell apart in the '90s after Pat Buchanan hijacked it and so seems pretty incoherent these days.

But what about the even more irrelevant third parties? Like, what does the Veterans Party even do? Why are there two pot legalization parties? (There are two bring back alcohol prohibition parties as well, so.) How did the Natural Law Party even get ballot access? Will the Justice Party be able to survive Rocky Anderson no longer running as their candidate? And so on.

[SingingAnalyst]

Third parties will continue to thrive because of (1) popular dissatisfaction with what the Demopublicans and Republicrats have to offer and (2) the desire of some for power, passion for a cause, or the desire to make a name for oneself. Their fortunes will rise and fall depending on the perceived relevance of the major candidates to popular concerns. Looking ahead to 2020, assuming Trump is the GOP nominee, the best thing for minor parties would be for the Dems to nominate a boring, technocratic (and unlikeable) candidate (like Tim Kaine). The worst thing for minor parties would be for the Dems to nominate a fiery, passionate candidate with populist appeal (Bernie Sanders, Geoff Fieger).

[America Needs R'hllor]

Third parties will continue to thrive because of (1) popular dissatisfaction with what the Demopublicans and Republicrats have to offer and (2) the desire of some for power, passion for a cause, or the desire to make a name for oneself. Their fortunes will rise and fall depending on the perceived relevance of the major candidates to popular concerns. Looking ahead to 2020, assuming Trump is the GOP nominee, the best thing for minor parties would be for the Dems to nominate a boring, technocratic (and unlikeable) candidate (like Tim Kaine). The worst thing for minor parties would be for the Dems to nominate a fiery, passionate candidate with populist appeal (Bernie Sanders, Geoff Fieger).

You have an interesting interpretation of the word "thrive"

[AltWorlder]

Specifically why do the Veteran's Party even get votes do people just protest vote for them because of their name, policy wise they're like moderate paleocons which isn't exactly a drastic new platform other than their focus

[SingingAnalyst]

Third parties will continue to thrive because of (1) popular dissatisfaction with what the Demopublicans and Republicrats have to offer and (2) the desire of some for power, passion for a cause, or the desire to make a name for oneself. Their fortunes will rise and fall depending on the perceived relevance of the major candidates to popular concerns. Looking ahead to 2020, assuming Trump is the GOP nominee, the best thing for minor parties would be for the Dems to nominate a boring, technocratic (and unlikeable) candidate (like Tim Kaine). The worst thing for minor parties would be for the Dems to nominate a fiery, passionate candidate with populist appeal (Bernie Sanders, Geoff Fieger).

You have an interesting interpretation of the word "thrive"

They appear on the ballot in several states and get thousands of votes from people who must know they don't have a snowball's chance in a very hot bad place of winning.